After watching Frederick Wiseman’s documentary shot in observatory mode I’d have to say although films shot in this mode are supposed to seem to be “fly on the wall” perspective, we get a lot of Wiseman’s perspective since he’s the filmmaker and he’s the one who choses where and what to film and what makes it to the final cut. I like this mode of documentary because although it isn’t completely objective it seems to have less of the filmmakers direct voice or feelings on screen. I still don’t quite understand why this film was banned from view in that area of Pennsylvania where it was shot. I thought Wiseman did a good job of showing the everyday life of high school students, parents and faculty. While there were some moments in the film where I was kind of creeped out, such as the scene where the girls were in gym working out in little shorts and Wiseman seemed to be zooming in on their lower half unnecessarily . I wonder what that was supposed to tell the audience. The “gynecologist” talking to the high school boys about sex and women also seemed quite misogynistic and way too playful, even though I’m sure that was his way of maybe bringing himself down to the high school boys level to make them pay attention to what he was saying. Overall I thought the film did a good job of showing what a typical few days in any high school might entail. If only a few of the classes taught back then could have found their way into the current curriculum of schools now. I really think classes such as home economics and sewing and mechanics and such would be extremely helpful to all students, male and female alike. That may be part of what’s missing from younger people now a days, we have to learn skills like balancing a checkbook, maintaining credit, and changing a flat tire on our own if some of us even learn at all.